Switch-stand



(No Modl.)

P. COLEMAN. SWITGHY STAND.

No. 2.92i,897.

Patented Feb. 5, 1384.

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NITED TATES l ATENT *rricE,

PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF HAYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-STAND.

SPECIFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,897, dated February5, 1884.

Application filed October 15. 1883. (No model.)

To all w/wm it'may concern:

Be it known that I, PREssLEY COLEMAN, of Haysville, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Switch-Stands; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in safety-lock signal-switches;and it has for its object the setting and locking of the signalmechanism by the switch-lever before the switch can be operated, and theretention of the signal until the switch is brought back to its originalposition; and it is designed to be used to protect the main line of arailroad at points where a break is caused, as at a siding, junction, orcross-over, where absolute safetysignals are required.

Heretofore'in safety-signal switches, wherein the signal devices havebeen automatically operated from the switch mechanism, the signal hasbeen operated by the first part of the switch movement, and it sometimeshappens, and it is always possible, that the switch being unlocked, thelever is turned sufficiently far to partially open the switch withoutmoving the signal sufficiently to denote danger, and also that the leveris moved far enough in the reverse direction to display thesafety-signal without moving sufficiently to close the break in theline. These objectionable features are, however, avoided by myinvention, which I will now proceed to describe, so that others skilledin the art may manufacture and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whiclFigurel is an elevation, partlyiu section, of my improved switch andsignal stand. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the line w00, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the operating-disk detached, andFig. 4 is a side view of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts Extending horizontallyfrom the circumference of the disk 0 are cars or lugs 0, between whichthe operating-lever d is pivoted, so that it may be lowered to avertical position, as shown by the full lines in the drawings, or

raised to a horizontal position, as shown by the dotted lines. The leveris so pivoted, how ever, that it can only be moved on its pivotal pointin the line of a vertical plane.

lilrtendingv from the end of the lever d beyond the pivotal point is ashort arm, 6, from which, extending horizontally, is a pin, j, whichengages with a half-eye or hook, g, on the end of a horizontal rod orbar, It. This rod h extends over the face of the disk 0, being bent soas to pass the signal rod or shaft 7:. On the other side of the shaft73, secured to and extending down from the under face of the bar h, is apin,j, which engages and slides in a groove or way, 1:, formed intheupper face of the disk 0. This groove It extends from the center of thedisk in a straight line to a point near the circumference thereof in aline with the directionof the bar It, and. thence half-wayround thedisk, following the line of the circumference. The lower end of the signal-shaft t is mounted loosely in a slot in the center of the disk 0,and is further supported by the frame Z. The bar his also supported bypassing through slots in this frame.

Keyed to the shaft t, below the bar 71, is a collar, m, from whichextends a short horiengage with the lever d, and prevent the disk 0 frombeing turned on its axis while the lever is in its vertical position.

Secured to the upper portion of the shaft 17 are the signal-targets r sand a signal-lamp, t. The lower end of the vertical switch-rod b isconnected with the switch-rails in the usual manner. p a

The operation is as follows: By turning the disk 0 on its axis, theswitch rod or shaft 6 is also turned, which operates the switch. Inorder to turn the disk, however, it is first necessary to raise thelever d to a horizontal position, in order that it may clear the slot qin the disk 1). \Vhen this lever d is raised, the

a quarter-turn on its axis, and thereby displays the danger-signalbefore the switch is in a position to be operated. Then the lever d .hasbeen raised so as to clear the disk c, the

disk 0 is given a half turn or revolution on its axis, which operatesthe switch-rails; but at the same time the pin f, becoming disengagedfrom the hook g, and the pin j engaging in the curved portion of thegroove in, the bar h is held or locked in its forward position by thepin and groove, and the signal is thereby locked during the operation ofthe switch mechanism, and after the switch has been set. lever 61 anddisk 0 have made a half-revolution, the lever (1, which no longerengages with the bar 71;, is lowered toa vertical position, so as to beheld or secured by the slot q in the disk v.

During the return movement of the lever d to its original position, inorder to again close the break in the main line, the danger-signalremains displayed until the switch has been completely operated, the pinf engages again with the hook g, and the lever is lowered or falls byits own weight to a vertical position, which movement operates thesignal by drawing the bar It back to its original position, and thesafety light or target is again displayed.

The advantages of my invention are that before the switch canbe movedthe danger-signal is set and retained or locked until the switch isbrought back and mechanically locked in its original position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

-When the 1. In a switch-stand, the combination of a rotating stem orshaft for operating the switch, an independently rotatingor oscillatingtarget or signal, a lever for operating the switchstem, and devices foractuating the independently-rotating target from the switch-lever,whereby the movement of the lever causes the shifting of the signalbefore the switch is turned, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of a rotating stem or shaft foroperating the switch, an independent rotating or oscillating target orsignal, a lever for operating the switchstem, devices for actuating theindependentlyrotating target from the switch-lever, whereby the movementof the lever causes the shifting of the signal before the switch isturned,

and the locking mechanism, whereby the signal mechanism remains lockeduntil the lever is returned to its original position, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

3. In a combined switch and signal-setting mechanism, the combination ofa rotating stem for actuating the switch, an independent rotating stemfor actuating the signal, a lever for actuating the switch-stem, aslide-bar actuated by the switch-lever, and adapted to actuate thesignal mechanism, and locking mechanism adapted to lock the slideduringthe rotation of the switch-stem, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day ofOctober, A. D. 1883.

,3 PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

\Vitnesses:

J AMES K. BAKEWELL, THOMAS W. BAKnwELL,

